Adjustable support for continuous mining machine



Sept. 28, 1965 5. NEWTON ETAL 3,208,797

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l Fig 1 INVENTORS Joseph Gonski Emil J. Hh'nsky John S. Newgn 4? Sept. 1965 J. 5. NEWTON ETAL 3,208,797

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Filed NOV. 27, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Jo seph Gpnskl y Emll J. Hhnsky John S. ewron wzm g 1%.,

P 1965 J. s. NEWTON ETAL 3,208,797

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5

INVENTORS Joseph Gonski 30 BY Emil J. Hh'nsky John 3. Newton p 28, 1965 J. s. NEWTON ETAL 3,208,797

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Emil J. Hlinsky John 5 Newton am al/ M United States Patent 3,208,797 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE John S. Newton, Glen Ellyn, Emil J. Hlinsky, La Grange Park, and Joseph Gonski, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 11]., a

corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 154,961 4 Claims. (Cl. 299-59) This invention relates to improvements in continuous mining machines and more particularly relates to an improved mounting for the rotary cutting devices on the main frame of the machine.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved support for the superstructure carrying the cutting assembly of a continuous mining machine arranged with a view toward simplicity in construction and operation and taking the thrusts at the end of the main frame remote from the elevating jacks.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the cutting assembly of a continuous mining machine in which the support and adjustment of the cutting assembly is materially simplified over prior continuous mining machines and in which the thrust reactions along the line of advance of the machine are taken rearwardly of the cutting assemblies toward the rear end of the machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simplified and improved form of continuous mining machine of the type having a plurality of rotary boring heads supported on a superstructure which is movable relative to the main frame of the machine. The superstructure is supported at its front end by independently operable hydraulic jacks. Thrust reactions of cutting are taken on a univeral joint spaced rearwardly of the hydraulic jacks which accommodates tilting of the superstructure, and of the boring heads carried thereby about horizontal transverse and longitudinal axes to conform the bore to the contour of the mine floor.

Still another object of the invention is to improve upon the continuous mining machines heretofore in use by supporting the superstructure carrying the rotary boring heads on a three-point suspension comprising hydraulic jacks at the front end of the machine independently operable to tilt the superstructure about horizontal transverse and longitudinal axes and wherein the reactions of cutting are taken on a universal joint forming the third point of the three point suspension at the rear of the superstructure and adjacent the rear end of the main frame of the machine, and wherein guide means adjacent the jacks relieve the jacks from sidewise pressure and direct the transmission of the forces of cutting to the universal joint at the rear of the machine.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a continuous mining machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, with certain parts broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the forward end portion of the mining machine shown in FIGURE 1 with the rotary boring heads broken away;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially; along line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation with 3,208,797 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 the boring heads removed and certain other parts broken away, and showing the lower trimmer bar in transverse section in order to illustrate the mounting for the lower trimmer bar on the machine; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan View with the boring heads removed and certain other parts broken away and shown in horizontal section and illustrating the mounting of the lower trimmer bar on the supporting frame structure therefor.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, we have shown in FIGURE 1, a continuous mining machine of the boring type having a mobile base or main frame 10. A superstructure or cutter frame structure 11 is supported upon and ahead of the main frame 10. The cutter frame structure 11 is vertically adjustable with respect to the main frame 10 and angularly adjustable with respect to the main frame about axes extending transversely and longitudinally of the main frame in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds. The cutter frame structure has a plurality of boring heads 12 rotatably mounted on and projecting forwardly from it for cutting contiguous bores in the working face of a mine.

The boring heads 12 have hubs 13 splined or otherwise secured to drive shafts 15 journalled in the cutter frame structure 11 and driven from motors 16 secured to and extending rearwardly of the cutter frame structure along opposite sides of a trough section 17 for two interleaving center strand chain and flight conveyors 18.

The main frame 10 is supported on the usual laterally spaced continuous traction tread devices 19 which serve to tram the machine from working place to working place and feed the boring heads 12 into the mine face. The continuous traction tread devices 19 are of a well known form driven from individual motors and speed reducers 20 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art so not herein shown or described further.

The cutter frame structure 11 has an upper trimmer or cutter bar 23 extending across the forward end thereof rearwardly of the boring heads 12 and having a trimmer chain 24 guided for movement therealong for cutting out the cusps depending from the mine roof. The trimmer bar 23 is mounted on the usual hydraulic jacks 25 operable to vertically adjust the trimmer bar in accordance with the thickness of the seam being mined.

The trimmer chain 24 turns about the usual direction changing idlers rotatably mounted at opposite ends of the trimmer bar 23 and downwardly therefrom to and along a lower trimmer bar 27. The trimmer chain 24 is driven from a point intermediate the trimmer bars 23 and 27 in a conventional manner, and no part of the present invention so not herein shown or described further.

The lower trimmer bar 27 is rockingly mounted on the cutter frame structure 11 for vertical adjustable movement with respect to the ground on two laterally spaced arms 29 extending rearwardly of a trimmer bar support 30 extending across the forward end of the cutter frame structure 11 and having a tongue 31 extending for the length thereof and forming a mounting for said lower trimmer bar 27.

The arms 29 each extend between a pair of ears 32 depending from a flange 33 bolted to the bottom of the cutter frame structure 11. The arms 29 are pivotally connected to said ears for movement about axes extending transversely of said cutter frame structure on pivot shafts 35 mounted in said ears. Shims (not shown) may be placed between the flange 33 and bottom of the cutter frame structure 11, to accommodate adjustment of the trimmer bar 27 to the cutting range of the boring heads 12 as said boring heads are adjusted for cutting varying heights of seams.

The bar 27 is vertically moved about the axes of the pins 35 by means of a hydraulic jack, shown in FIG- URE as being disposed at the longitudinal center of the machine and including a cylinder 36 having a piston rod 37 extensibly and rectractibly movable with respect to the lower end thereof. The cylinder 36 has ears 39 projecting upwardly of its head end and extending between two spaced ears 40 projecting forwardly of the front face of the cutter frame structure 11 and pivotally connected to said ears on a pivot pin 41. The piston rod 37 extends between spaced cars 43 extending upwardly of the cutter bar support 30 and is pivotally connected to said ears by a pivot pin 44. The hydraulic jack may thus raise the trimmer bar 27 to the position shown in FIGURE 5 to accommodate the machine to be trammed from working place to working place and may lower said trimmer bar to the cutting Position shown by broken lines in this figure.

Because the trimmer bar 27 is carried by the cutter frame structure 11, it may be adjusted to conform it to a mine floor by suitably adjusting the cutter frame structure, about axes extending longitudinally and transversely of the main frame 10.

A pusher plate 45 is placed in front of the cylinder 36, above the trimmer bar support 30. This protects the cylinder. The plate also guides the mined material produced by the boring heads 12, diverting it into receiving trough sections 46 which extend, from conveyor throats between outer pairs of boring heads 12, rearwardly and upwardly and inwardly where they converge into the main, central conveyor trough section 17. As shown in FIGURE 6, the pusher plate 45 extends across the center of the machine, in front of the cylinder 36, and angularly inwardly to the inner walls of the trough sections 46.

Pusher plates 47 form continuations of the outer walls of the trough sections 46 and extend forwardly therefrom at the angles of inclinations thereof to the trimmer bar 27 and then extend along said trimmer bar to the outer ends thereof. The pusher plates 45 and 47 thus cooperate with the boring heads 12 to guide the mined material to the trough sections 46 to be picked up by the center strand chain and flight conveyors 18 guided for movement along the trough sections 46. The center strand chain and flight conveyors 18 converge into the trough section 17 and travel therealong and along a laterally flexible discharge trough section 48 and are suitably driven at the rear end of the laterally movable discharge trough section 48.

The cutter frame structure 11 forms a housing for the gearing for driving the boring heads 12 and also forms bearing supports for said boring heads and forms a mounting for the motors 16 extending rearwardly of said frame structure. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the cutter frame structure 11 is generally U-shaped in plan having two legs 50 extending rearwardly of a transversely extending boring head support structure 51 and having inner parallel spaced side walls 53 slidably engaging parallel spaced guide or thrust posts 55 extending upwardly of the main frame 11. The guide or thrust posts 55 are generally rectangular in plan view and serve to both guide the cutter frame structure 11 and to take the transverse thrusts of mining.

The motors 16 secured to and projecting rearwardly of the cutter frame structure 11 are connected together by a transverse plate 57 welded or otherwise secured to the shells for said motors and mounted on a universal joint 59 taking the axial thrusts of mining and accommodating adjustment of the cutter frame structure 11 about longitudinal and transverse axes in a manner which will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

The motors 16 drive the boring heads 12 and trimmer chain 24 through pinions 61 driving geared reduction trains 63. The geared reduction trains 63 extend alon opposite sides of the conveyor 18 and are geared together at the front of the cutter frame structure 11 by a gear train indicated by reference character 64 and having driving connection with the shafts 15 for driving the boring heads 12 in a conventional manner. The drive to the boring heads 12 and trimmer chain 24 is thus divided between the two motors 16 and pin-ions 61, enabling the power for driving the boring heads to be increased with out increasing the size of the machine and resulting in a reduction in loading and wear on the pinions 61.

This arrangement also places the motors and gear trains along opposite sides of the conveyor 18 and further increases the compactness of the machine.

Each leg 50 of the housing 51 has a vertically extending cylinder 65 mounted therein at the inner side thereof adjacent the outer side of an associated trough 46 and adjacent the front end of the main frame 10. The cylinder 65 has a piston 66 extensible from the lower end thereof (FIGURE 3). The piston 66 has a downwardly opening generally spherical socket 67 therein engaged by a ball 69 on the upper end of a shaft 70. A ball 71 on the lower end of the shaft 70 engages within a socket 73 on an upright support 74 extending upwardly of a bottom plate 75 of the main frame 10. The balls 69 and 71 at the outsides of the furcations of the bifurcated conveyor trough structure, thus support the cutter frame structure 11 on the pistons 66 and accommodate tilting of the frame about the universal joint 59 and about axes extending longitudinally of the main frame 10 and transversely of said main frame.

Fluid under pressure may be supplied to the cylinders 65 from a pump 76 driven from the right hand geared reduction train 63 through a pinion 77. Suitable control valves (not shown) are provided to independently supply fluid under pressure to the two cylinders 65 to raise and lower the cutter frame structure about the universal joint 59 and to tilt said cutter frame structure about said universal joint about axes extending transversely and longitudinally of the machine. The holding of fluid under pressure in the cylinders 65 will maintain the cutter frame structure 11, trimmer bars 23 and 27 and boring heads 12 in fixed relation with respect to the ground.

The universal joint 59 includes a bearing collar 79 having a spherical face 80 engaged by a spherical internal face 81, forming a spherical margin of an apertured portion 82 of the transverse Plate 5-7.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the bearing collar 79 is mounted on an upright post 83 mounted on a bottom plate 84 of the main frame 10. The upright post 83 is shown as being welded to the bottom plate 84 and as extending within a hollow boss 85 welded or otherwise secured to the bottom plate 84. The hollow boss 85 has a tapered face 86 tapering downwardly from the post 83 toward the outer end of said boss and shown in FIG- URE 3 as supporting the bearing collar 79. The upper face of the bearing collar 79 is shown being abutted .by a spacer collar 87 mounted on the post 83 and retained thereto by an end cap 88 for the upper end of the post 83 and secured thereto as by machine screws 89. The spacer collar 87 is shown as having an upwardly tapering lower face 90 tapering upwardly from the bearing collar 79 as it extends outwardly of said bearing collar to accommodate angular movement of the transverse plate 57 about the spherical face 80 of the bearing collar 79 as the cutter frame structure 11 is adjustably moved about axes extending longitudinally and transversely of the main frame 10.

In FIGURE 4 of the drawings, we have shown the spacer collar 87 inverted with its tapered face 90 facing upwardly.- The spacer collar 87 being supported on the top surface of the boss 85 thus spaces the transverse plate 57 above the boss to vary the height of the transverse plate 57 and rear end portion of the cutter frame structure 11 as the height of cutting of the boring heads 12 and trimmer bars 23 and 27 is varied. When the bearing collar 79 is mounted on the spacer collar 87, the upper end portion of said bearing collar is abutted by the cap 88. The cap 88 has a tapered underface tapering upwardly from the bearing collar 79 and cooperating with the tapered face 90 of the spacer collar 87 to accommodate angular adjustment of the cutter frame structure 11 about the spherical face of the bearing collar 79 about axes extending transversely and longitudinally of the main frame 10.

It should be understood that when the mining machine is being assembled, it will be assembled to cut in a selected cutting range and that varying thicknesses and arrangements of spacer collars 87 may be provided to support the transverse plate 57 in the correct position for the desired cutting height of the machine.

The two cylinders 65 and piston 66 supporting the forward end portion of the cutter frame structure l l on the spaced and aligned balls 69 and 71 thus form two points of the three point suspension, the universal joint 59 forming the third point, as has previously been mentioned.

The cutter frame structure, the upper and lower trimmer bars 23 and 27 supported thereon and the boring heads 12 may thus be adjusted about the universal joint 59 and tilted about horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the main frame and transversely of said main frame and intersecting at the center of the universal joint 59, to conform the trimmer bars and boring heads to various mining conditions.

It may further be seen that the universal joint 59 including the bearing collar 79 and post 83 take the axial thrust reactions of mining as the machine is advanced to mine out a working place and that the side thrust reactions are taken on the thrust posts 55, which with the universal joint 59 relieve the cylinders 65 and piston 66 from the thrusting reactions of cutting.

While we have herein shown and described one form in which our invention may be embodied, it may readily be understood that various variations and modifications in the invention may be attained without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof as defined by the claims appended hereto.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a continuous mining machine,

(a) a main frame,

(b) a cutter frame structure spaced above said main frame and extending in advance thereof,

(c) a cutting assembly at the forward end of said cutter frame structure capable of cutting clearance for said main frame and cutter frame structure,

(d) traction devices supporting said main frame and tramming said frame and feeding said cutting assembly into a working face,

(e) means for supporting and adjusting said cutter frame structure with respect to said main frame about generally horizontal axes extending transversely and longitudinally of said main frame,

(f) comprising two spaced independently operable elevating jacks pivotally supporting said cutter frame structure on said main frame adjacent the front of said main frame for movement about axes extending longitudinally and transversely of said main frame,

(g) a universal joint supporting the rear end portion of said cutter frame structure on said main frame and effective to absorb the thrust reactions of mining on said cutter frame structure,

(h) comprising an upright post on said main frame having (i) a bearing collar mounted thereon having (j) a spherical outer face engaged by said cutter frame structure,

(k) and spacer means on said post supporting said bearing collar on said post and removable to enable the position of said bearing collar along said post to be varied.

2. In a continuous mining machine,

(a) main frame,

(b) a cutter frame structure supported on said main frame and having a cutting assembly at its forward end capable of cutting clearance for said main frame and cutter frame structure,

(c) traction devices for supporting and trammin-g said main frame and feeding said cutting assembly into a working face,

(d) means for supporting and adjusting the cutter frame structure at varying angles and heights with re spect to said main frame comprising (e) two laterally spaced elevating jacks pivotally supporting an end portion of said cutter frame structure at the front of said main frame for movement about axes extending longitudinally and transversely of said main frame,

(f) a rigid center post on said main frame spaced rearwardly of said jacks sand midway between said jacks,

(g) a pair of laterally spaced legs extending rearwardly of said cutter frame,

(h) a universal joint connected between said legs and center post and supporting a rear end portion of said cutter frame structure on said main frame, said universal joint including (1) a member mounted on said post,

(2) a cooperating member connected between said legs and mounted on said member for universal movement with respect thereto,

whereby said elevating jacks and universal joint and post provide a threepoint suspension for said cutter frame structure, in which said universal joint and post absorb the thrust reactions of mining.

3. In a continuous mining machine,

(a) a main frame,

(b) a cutter frame structure extending along said main frame and in advance of the forward end thereof and having a cutting assembly at its forward end capable of cutting clearance for said main frame and cutter frame structure,

(c) traction devices supporting said main frame and tramming said main frame and feeding said cutting assembly into a working face,

((1) means for supporting said cutter frame structure on said main frame and adjusting said cutter frame structure to conform to varying angles and heights with respect to said main frame comprising:

(e) two spaced elevating jacks pivotally supporting said cutter frame structure at the front of said main frame and independently operable to elevate said cutter frame structure and tilt said cutter frame structure at varying angles with respect to said main frame about axes extending longitudinally and transversely of said main frame,

(f) guide means between said main frame and said cutter frame structure effective to limit sidewise movement of said cutter frame structure with respect to said main frame,

(g) a rigid center post extending upwardly from said main frame in rearwardly spaced relation with respect to said jacks and midway therebetween,

(h) a universal joint supporting the rear end portion of said cutter frame structure on said post and main frame and including a bearing collar mounted on said base, a transverse plate spaced rearwardly of said cutter frame structure and supported thereon and having an apertured portion extending about said bearing collar, said bearing collar and apertured portion of said plate having mating concave and convex semi-spherical surfaces relatively movable with respect to each other upon adjustable movement of said cutter frame structure with respect to said post by said jacks,

whereby said universal joint supports the rear end portion of said cutter frame structure on said post and with said jacks provides a three-point suspension in which said uni- 7 versal joint and post absorb the thrust reactions of mining. 4. In a continuous mining machine,

(a) a main frame,

(b) a cutter frame structure having a cutting assembly at its forward end capable of cutting clearance for said main frame and cutter frame structure,

(c) traction devices supporting and trarnming said main frame and feeding said cutting assembly into a working face,

(d) means for supporting and adjusting said cutter frame structure with respect to said main frame at varying angles and heights comprising (e) two laterally spaced elevating jacks carried by said cutter frame structure,

(-f) universal bearing connections between said jacks and said main frame at the front end of said main frame,

(g) at least one stationary guide post mounted on and extending upwardly of said main frame and having slidable guiding engagement with said cutter frame structure and taking the lateral thrust reactions of mining,

(h) a rigid center post mounted on and extending up- 8 wardly of said main frame between said elevating jacks and spaced rearwardly therefrom,

(i) a universal joint mounted on said post,

(j) a supporting connection between said cutter frame structure and said universal joint, said universal joint transmitting the thrust reactions of mining from said cutter frame to said post,

(k) a spacer supported on said post and supporting said universal joint in fixed spaced relation with respect thereto, said spacer being removable to accommodate the height of said universal joint to be varied, to thereby enable the cutting assembly to be adjusted to cut seams of varying heights.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS -2,694,5 62 11/54 Snyder et 3;]. 2,757,917 8/56 Oartlidge. 2,777,68 1 1/57 Ball.

2,808,249 10/57 Robbins. 2,808, 25 1 10/ 5 7 Anderson.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE, (A) A MAIN FRAME, (B) A CUTTER FRAME STRUCTURE SPACED ABOVE SAID MAIN FRAME AND EXTENDING IN ADVANCE THEREOF; (C) A CUTTING ASSEMBLY AT THE FFORWARD END OF SAID CUTTER FRAME STRUCTURE CAPABLE OF CUTTING CLEARANCE FOR SAID MAIN FRAME AND CUTTER FRAME STRUCTURE, (D) TRACTION DEVICES SUPPORTING SAID MAIN FRAME AND TRAMMING SAID FRAME AND FEEDING SAID CUTTING ASSEMBLY INTO A WORKING FACE, (E) MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING SAID CUTTER FRAME STRUCTURE WITH RESPECT TO SAID MAIN FRAMME ABOUT GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY AND LONGITUDINALLY OF /SAID MAIN FRAME, (F) COMPRISING TWO SPACED INDEPENDENTLY OPERABLE ELEVATING JACKS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID CUTTER FRAME STRUCTURE ON SAID MAIN FRAME ADJACENT THE FRONT OF SAID MAIN FRAMME FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY OF SAID MAIN FRAME, (G) A UNIVERSAL JOINT SUPPORTING THE REAR END PORTION OF SAID CUTTER FRAME STRUCTURE ON SAID MAIN FRAME AND EFFECTIVE TO ABSORB THE THRUST REACTIONS OF MINING ON SAID CUTTER FRAME STRUCTURE, (H) COMPRISING AN UPRIGHT POST ONN SAID MAIN FRAME HAVING (I) A BEARING COLLAR MOUNTED THEREON HAVING (J) A SPHERICAL OUTER FACE ENGAGED BY SAID CUTTER FRAME STRUCTURE, (K) AND SPACER MEANS ON SAID POST SUPPORTING SAID BEARING COLLAR ON SAID POST ANND REMOVABLE TO ENABLE THE POSITION OF SAID BEARING COLLAR ALONG SAID POST TO BE VARIED. 